Well if the official who servers do not know the language of the people how can they serve the people? It is better they leave or learn that language, rather than waiting for the people to learn it. There is a issue with the procedure but the core issue is the former. .
The official has been doing his job quite successfully probably 50+ years. So why the hurry and make a big mess of things? SLG should have continued with English trying to include Sinhala and tamil into the administration step by step. That is being sane and rational which of course I understand why you fail to grasp. That is given a one quarter of your population rejecting the language switch. If you are married you cannot force your decisions on your partner and make her do only what you want at the threat of force. That marriage is doomed to fail. Same with countries, nations.
The educated people left but the loser was SL. So the ‘do as we say or leave’ has not really worked in favor of SL. Now the Sinhala speakers are leaving SL to Sudda’s countries. What else can define a ‘failure’?
That is exactly it is the issue with the procedure, that is what I am saying. No one is questiong the necessity to replace English with native languages.
Their is a issue with procedure and timing but the act was enacted to restore the national language which was used before 1815. I do not think anyone has a problem with that. Tamils should have respected the policy while showing it's errors. Then Sinhalese leaders could have worked on that. Sinhalese always listened to what Tamils had to say.
The Sinhala language was used only in southern and central part of the island. I again tell you Kandy is not SL. SL is a much larger land with different communities unlike Kandy. For god’s sake have a look at the SL map. Why should tamils respect the policy where they are neglected and pulled down to a second place? The constant complaining, protests from 56 to 70s, agreements with banda and Dudley, constant appeal for changes is not showing errors to you?
Actually tamils need not show errors, Sinhala leaders should have grey matter to understand there is growing grievances among tamils and we need to answer and manage that. Rather force and violence was used to put down protests. Sinhala leaders tore pacts with banda and chelva due to mad monks at that time and Sinhala racists.
“Sinhalese always listened to what Tamils had to say”
tell me one instance I d like to know….